iPhone 6, iWatch and Other Apple News Due to Emerge at Sept. 9 Event

iPhone 6, iWatch and Other Apple News Due to Emerge at Sept. 9 Event

By Don Reisinger

Look for Tim Cook to Share Sales

Apple CEO Tim Cook won't have many surprises during his brief comments at the onset of the event. Expect Cook to talk about all of the "exciting" things his company will share that day and then get right into the success of its many products. Apple loves to start out its events with stats and sales figures, and this year will be no different.

Android Comparisons Will Be Made

Apple doesn't like Android. That's precisely why the company will be showing the ways in which it believes its iPhone can perform more adeptly at certain tasks than Android handsets. Apple will also showcase the superiority of its software over Android. Google's operating system is a major target for Apple, and that's not going to change anytime soon.

Expect Some New iOS Features

Although Apple already showed off iOS 8 at the Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this year, the company is expected to include new features in the iPhone 6 that would require some new apps to be bundled with its operating system. Because of that, it's entirely possible that Apple will spend some time outlining new apps it's building into its operating system. Apple has done this before and seems likely to do it again.

The 5.5-Inch Device Doesn't Appear Imminent

Although there was plenty of talk a couple of months ago that Apple would introduce a 5.5-inch iPhone 6, such a device might not appear at the Sept. 9 event. The latest reports suggest that Apple has faced some yield issues with the device's screen and might delay its introduction for a few months. For now, Apple might focus customers' attention on a 4.7-inch iPhone 6, and not a 5.5-inch model.

Now's the Time for Near-Field Communication

Talk of Apple bundling near-field communication (NFC) into its handsets has been happening for years. However, it appears that this year it might actually happen. Apple, according to reports, is working on a mobile payment system with credit cards stored in iTunes as the backbone. The NFC chip built into the iPhone 6 would allow customers to pay for goods without ever needing to take their credit cards out of the wallet. It's similar to Google Wallet and Softcard, but might actually prove more popular—if Apple can do it right.

A Fall Launch Date for the iPhone 6 Seems Likely

This prediction isn't too difficult to make, but expect Apple to announce an early fall launch date for the iPhone 6. At the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple said that iOS 8 would launch in the fall, and the company typically releases its new operating system distributions a few days before its latest iPhone. Apple isn't expected to change course this year.

Apple Won't Change Pricing

Apple also won't change course in the pricing of its iPhone 6. Over the last several years, Apple has continued to offer its new devices at the same prices as its last one. The company then discounts the price on previous products. Although the iPhone 6 will be bigger and likely come with enhanced features, it won't cost any more than the $200 starting price that mobile service contract customers can obtain with the iPhone 5S.

The iPhone 5S Won't Go Away Any Time Soon

The iPhone 5S isn't going anywhere. Apple will reduce the price on the iPhone 5S by about $100 and then cut its many feature options. It's a move Apple has used successfully in the past and something the company should be expected to do again with the 5S. At this point, the more devices Apple can offer at reasonable prices, the better its chances of competing with Android.

Yes, the iWatch Will Make an Appearance

It took awhile to get here, but yes, the iWatch will be on display at Apple's Sept. 9 event. For months, rumors have been swirling suggesting the iWatch would make its debut, but that hasn't happened to date. Sept. 9 seems like the perfect time for Apple to show off its smartwatch and capitalize on the busy year-end shopping season.

Lots of Gaming Talk

Apple is expected to announce several component enhancements in the iPhone 6. That will mean a new processor, likely a new graphics coprocessor and more memory. In the past, when Apple has made similar enhancements, the company has called on game developers to show off its product's new power. Expect the same this time around.

The hype surrounding the Sept. 9 iPhone 6 event has hit a fever pitch. Unlike previous years, Apple has decided to hold just a few big product introductions in 2014. And aside from the Worldwide Developers Conference, where it typically announces software improvements, Apple will rely on lower-profile news updates revealed in press releases rather than make big splashes at major press events. The move has only increased the hype surrounding the Sept. 9 product introduction. Apple usually schedules such events shortly after Labor Day to introduce products that will be ready for the holiday shopping season. However, this schedule also puts more pressure on Apple to show off something major. After all, Apple has to show off something fresh, if not groundbreaking, if it wants its products to be among the season's sales leaders. This eWEEK slide show examines what might happen at Apple's special event, including the things that are most likely to make an impact when CEO Tim Cook hosts reporters and employees Sept. 9.

Don Reisinger is a freelance technology columnist. He started writing about technology for Ziff-Davis' Gearlog.com. Since then, he has written extremely popular columns for CNET.com, Computerworld, InformationWeek, and others. He has appeared numerous times on national television to share his expertise with viewers. You can follow his every move at http://twitter.com/donreisinger.